Mobile originated interactive menus via short messaging services

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for providing 2-way interactive short message system menus to a mobile device using text-based short messaging rather than WAP techniques. This provides the ability to provide WAP like services at a fraction of the cost of CSD. Mobile Originated Interactive Menus are implemented as a feature of a Short Message Service Center (SMSC). Each option guides either to the next menu level, or to a final action to be executed according to the path followed by the subscriber. Importantly, the mobile originated interactive menus use SMS communications instead of circuit switched data (CSD) (e.g., instead of WAP communications), thus leaving traffic channels available for voice calls. Interactive SMS menus allow service providers to offer their subscribers personalized messaging menus with multiple options for quick and easy access to Web-based content. Users may define the content and frequency they want, whether it is a scheduled delivery or on-demand. The interactive SMS menu options offer customers a simple-to-use technique and apparatus for checking, e.g., stock quotes, local weather, and/or other Web-based news and information when they want it. The interactive nature of the service allows the wireless network to poll the user for their next response, with multiple menued options offered, making it highly intuitive. Replacement of messages in TDMA and GSM mobile devices allow for heavy usage without filling up the user&#39;s phone buffer, i.e., prior messages may be overwritten, to assure that only the latest information is all that is being displayed and read. The flexibility of Interactive SMS Menus can allow service providers to define their own base offering of menus, depending upon their targeted customer segments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to wireless communications networks.More particularly, it relates to the communication of menus between amobile (i.e., wireless) device and an application server via a shortmessage service center (SMSC).

2. Background of Related Art

Wireless communication services are in increasing demand in response toa society that is becoming increasingly mobile. In the early 1990s, as aresult of the growing popularity of digital wireless technology, astandard for digital wireless networks was introduced in Europe. Thatstandard, now known as the global standard for mobiles (GSM), included aservice called short messaging service (SMS). An SMS system allowstransmission of short messages, typically up to 160 characters, to andfrom communication devices, e.g., cellular telephone handsets,telephones or computers with appropriate modems. In North America, theSMS is currently implemented on digital wireless/mobile networks, suchas a PCS network based on the GSM standard, code division multipleaccess (CDMA) and/or time division multiple access (TDMA) methods. Shortmessage services are gaining in popularity, particularly in the UnitedStates.

Short message services are advantageous over text based paging servicesbecause of the capability of bi-directional communication. Suchbi-directional communication allows, for example, notification to theoriginating device of the success or failure of the short messagedelivery.

Each SMS network typically includes a short message service center(SMSC) which acts as a store-and-forward mechanism providing guaranteeddelivery of short messages to a subscriber, even if the subscriber isinactive when the message was transmitted, by delivering the shortmessages once the subscriber becomes active. Delivery of all shortmessages is guaranteed regardless of whether or not the intendedsubscriber is “on-line” because the transmitted short message is storedwithin the SMS network and delivered to the intended subscriber fromtheir assigned SMSC when the subscriber becomes available.

A variety of services have been introduced using SMS networks including,for example, integrated electronic mail and fax, integrated paging,interactive banking, and information services such as stock quotes andairline schedule delivery.

In operation, an SMSC receives a short message from any source andintended to be delivered to a particular subscriber. When the intendedsubscriber is not available because, for example, it is turned off or isoutside of the service area of the SMS network, the attempt to deliverthe short message at that time will fail. In this case, the shortmessage will be retained in the SMS network for a later deliveryattempt. Thereafter, when the subscriber finally becomes available,e.g., is turned on or has moved into the service area of the SMSnetwork, the relevant portions of the network (e.g., the mobileservicing center (MSC) and the home location register (HLR)) notify theSMSC to initiate delivery of the stored (i.e., previously failed) shortmessages.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary structure of a SMS network 500. Although thefollowing example is described using terms and protocols mainly asdefined by the North American standard IS-41, it will be apparent to oneskilled in the art that the example is applicable to any networks thatoffer store-and-forward type short message service.

The SMS network 500 typically includes one short message service center(SMSC) 501. The SMSC 501 typically includes a storage subsystem to storeshort messages that had failed to be delivered. The SMSC 501 typicallyfurther includes various interfaces (not shown) to receive shortmessages originating from various sources and protocols, such as a VoiceMail System (VMS) 508, paging networks using, e.g., Telocator NumericPaging Protocol (TNPP) 509, devices using the Short Message Peer-to-Peer(SMPP) protocol 510 via TCP/IP, e-mail systems using the Simple MailTransport Protocol (SMTP) 511, and/or devices using the TelocatorAlphanumeric Protocol (TAP) 512. Some of the various sources of theshort messages may be gateways to other networks.

The SMSC 501 may further include a gateway/interworking block (notshown) that enables the SMSC 501 to communicate with the rest of the SMSnetwork 500, such as a Home Location Register (HLR) 503 or a MobileSwitching Center (MSC) 505, using the Signaling System No. 7 (SS7) 502.The methods and mechanism of communication in the SMS network 500 aredefined by the mobile application part (MAP) layer, which uses theservices of the SS7 transaction capabilities application part (TCAP) asthe signaling infrastructure of the SMS network 500. The protocol forthe signaling is referred to as the IS-41 protocol under the Americanstandard as published by the Telecommunication Industry Association(TIA) or as the GSM MAP under the European standard published byEuropean Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI).

The Home Location Register (HLR) 503 includes a database thatpermanently stores and manages subscriptions and service profiles ofusers having a subscription to the SMS network 500. Although only oneHLR 503 is shown, the SMS network 500 may include two or more HLRs. TheSMS network 500 also typically includes several visitor locationregisters (VLR) 504. A VLR 504 is a database temporarily holdinginformation about visiting subscribers who move into its service area.Thus, a VLR 504 contains information regarding routing information forall subscribers within its service area, and informs the relevant HLR503 of the availability and routing information regarding itssubscribers. The mobile switching center (MSC) 505 obtains subscriberinformation from the VLR 504 to service visiting subscribers.

The mobile switching center (MSC) 505 performs switching and callcontrol functions, and receives short messages from the SMSC 501 fordelivery to the appropriate mobile subscriber 507 (shown, e.g., as acellular phone handset). It is to be understood that, although only oneMSC 505 is shown, the wireless network 500 may include two or more MSCs.

The base station subsystem (BSS) 506 handles the wirelesscommunications, e.g., RF transmission and reception of voice and datatraffic, to and from the mobile subscriber 507. The BSS 506 is typicallycomposed mainly of two parts: the base transceiver station (BTS, notshown) which houses the radio transceivers that define a cell andhandles the radio-link protocols with the mobile subscriber 507, and thebase station controller (BSC, also not shown) which manages the radioresources, and handles radio channel set up, frequency hopping, andhandoffs (or handovers as is sometimes referred as). The BSC is theinterface between the MSC 505 and the subscriber 507. The subscriber507, also sometimes referred to as a mobile station (MS), typicallyconsists of mobile equipment (e.g., a cellular phone handset) preferablyuniquely identifiable by an identifying number, e.g., mobileidentification number (MIN), International mobile subscriberidentification (IMSI) and/or electronic serial number (ESN), for thesubscriber 507. The mobile equipment may include a storage area, e.g., aflash memory, a ROM, a RAM or the like to hold the unique identifyingnumber within the mobile equipment. In GSM networks, a smart card,typically referred to as a subscriber identity module (SIM) is utilizedto store a unique identifying number.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary flow of a short message through a conventionalSMS network. Although FIG. 6 shows only an example of short messagedelivery to a mobile subscriber, it is to be understood that a mobilesubscriber or any other sources may originate a short message. The flowof a mobile subscriber originated short message would involve similarprocesses as the following mobile subscriber terminated short messageexample, and would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.

The SMSC 601 receives a short message intended for a subscriber 604 froma source of short message 605 which may be any one or more of theaforementioned sources of short messages, e.g., 508-512 of FIG. 5. Uponreceiving a short message, the SMSC 601 sends a request for routinginformation, i.e., an SMS request (SMSREQ), to the HLR 602. The HLR 602maintains information regarding the availability of the intendedsubscriber 604 and the appropriate MSC 603 that services the intendedsubscriber, and sends the information as routing information 608 back tothe SMSC 601. The SMSC 601 forwards the short message to the appropriateMSC 603 using the routing information 608 received from the HLR 602, forexample, in accordance with the short message delivery point-to-point(SMDPP) mechanism of IS-41 standard. The MSC 603 queries the VLR (notshown) for subscriber information. The VLR may perform a paging andauthentication process, and sends the subscriber information to the MSC603. The MSC 603, using the information received from the VLR, deliversthe short message to the intended subscriber 604, and sends a deliveryreport 612 to the SMSC 601. The SMSC 601 may send the result of thedelivery, i.e., the status report 613, to the source of the shortmessage 605 if requested.

When the attempted delivery of the short message has failed because, forinstance, the intended user was out of the service area, or had his orher communication device turned off, the MSC 603 informs the HLR 602 ofthe failure. The HLR 602 then turns on an SMS notification indicatorflag for the subscriber, and the SMSC 601 retains the failed message fora later delivery attempt.

Wireless solutions to date have allowed a subscriber to push data to thehandset from a web site. The Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)attempts to standardize a mechanism for two-way communications. The useof WAP protocol communications requires that a special browser be loadedon the mobile device, and requires the user to enter into a dedicated‘browser mode’ to interact with 2-way services.

WAP phones can query Internet sites. WAP is currently available onlyover Circuit Switched Data (CSD) networks, which utilize a callingchannel. Also, it does not adequately utilize the existing data channelsavailable.

WAP capable mobile devices rely on pushing data to a mobile device, oron pulling data. WAP services can also provide a menuing solution tomobile devices. However, such mobile devices must include WAP specificsoftware, increasing costs and further complicating a wireless network.

Significantly, WAP technologies are available only via CSD or packetswitched data (PSD) channels that occupy a call for the duration of theWAP session.

There is a need for a mobile wireless device that does not necessitateWAP capability in the mobile wireless device to implement interactivemenuing by a wireless mobile device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, aninteractive short messaging system menu selection process comprisesreceiving a text message from a mobile device including anidentification of a main menu. A text message is transmitted to themobile device including text of the main menu. A choice corresponding toa selected further menu is received back from the mobile device.

A method of transmitting selection of a lower level menu using textmessaging in accordance with another aspect of the present inventioncomprises responding to a first menu displayed on a mobile device byoverwriting at least one character of an address of the first menu, andtransmitting the overwritten address to a short messaging system (SMS).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art from the following description with referenceto the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an information query utilizing interactive SMS menusin a mobile device, in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 an exemplary message flow providing interactive SMS menus to amobile device, in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 3A to 3C show exemplary interactive SMS menus displayed on amobile phone, in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 4A to 4C show an exemplary application of interactive SMS menuswherein on-demand stock updates are, provided in response to selectionfrom a lower level menu, in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary structure of a conventional SMS network.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary flow of a short message through a conventionalSMS network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides wireless carriers with a method andapparatus for providing 2-way interactive short message system menus toa handset. The menus can be setup as required by the service providerand can provide API linkage to external sites offering access to theInternet. This provides the ability to provide WAP like services at afraction of the cost of CSD.

Mobile Originated Interactive Menus may be implemented as a feature of aShort Message Service Center (SMSC). This feature would allow serviceproviders to configure several levels of menus with, e.g., up to 9options per menu. Each option guides either to the next menu level, orto a final action to be executed according to the path followed by thesubscriber.

Importantly, the mobile originated interactive menus use SMScommunications instead of circuit switched data (CSD) (e.g., instead ofWAP communications), thus leaving traffic channels available for voicecalls. Moreover, mobile originated mobile devices are less costly thanare wireless application protocol (WAP) equipped mobile devices.

Interactive SMS Menus may be implemented as a feature in a Short MessageService Center (SMSC) and Internet Gateway for CDMA, TDMA, and/or GSMnetworks, and does not require WAP protocol communications. InteractiveSMS menus allow service providers to offer their subscriberspersonalized messaging menus with multiple options for quick and easyaccess to Web-based content.

Users may define the content and frequency they want, whether it is ascheduled delivery or on-demand. The interactive SMS menu options offercustomers a simple-to-use technique and apparatus for checking, e.g.,stock quotes, local weather, and/or other Web-based news and informationwhen they want it. The interactive nature of the service allows thewireless network to poll the user for their next response, with multiplemenued options offered, making it highly intuitive. Replacement ofmessages in TDMA and GSM mobile devices allow for heavy usage withoutfilling up the user's phone buffer, i.e., prior messages may beoverwritten, to assure that only the latest information is all that isbeing displayed and read.

The flexibility of Interactive SMS Menus can allow service providers todefine their own base offering of menus, depending upon their targetedcustomer segments.

FIG. 1 illustrates an information query utilizing interactive SMS menusin a mobile device, in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 1, message flows 1-6 show a menu requestby a subscriber using a mobile device 100, and receipt of a main (or‘root’) menu from an appropriate Web gateway 130 via an SMSC 120 and MSC110. In the given example of FIG. 1, the mobile device 100 is theoriginating station, anointing this scenario as a ‘mobile originated’(MO) scenario.

Message flows 7-12 show the mobile device 100 continuing to navigatedown through levels of menus rooted by the originally received main menuby selection using the numeric keypad of the mobile device 100.

Message flows 13-15 show the user or subscriber of the mobile device 100ultimately reaching and making their final selection from a particularmenu page.

Message flows 16 and 17 show an application such as QUERYNET™ running onan appropriate Web gateway 130 executing a query to an availableinformation server 150 on the Internet, and receiving a result. The Webgateway 130 is preferably a wireless Internet gateway including anappropriate network information server application such as QUERYNET™available from TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. in Annapolis, Md. The Webgateway 130 may communicate with an appropriate application running onthe information server 150 using, e.g., an HTTP Post XML command.

Relevant portions of the QUERYNET™ application are shown and describedin U.S. application Ser. No. 09/______, filed Feb. 20, 2001, entitled“Individualized Network Information Server”, by Richard Smith, JohannaWilson, and Steve Levine, the entirety of which is expresslyincorporated herein by reference. Similarly, an appropriate Web gateway130 is shown and described in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/630,762,filed Aug. 2, 2000, entitled “Wireless Internet Gateway”, by RichardSmith, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated herein byreference.

Message flows 18-21 show the Web gateway 130 querying a home locationregister (HLR) 140 for the location of the mobile device 100, andreceipt of the PC of the serving MSC 110.

Message flows 22-27 show that, after formatting of the result, the Webgateway 130 returns the requested information to the mobile device 100,and receives an acknowledgement.

FIG. 2 an exemplary message flow providing interactive SMS menus to amobile device, in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 2, a wireless network service providermay provision a menu structure in accordance with their own serviceofferings. The main menu preferably includes one or more subsistingmenus selected from that main menu.

Process step 1 in FIG. 2 depicts the user of the mobile device 100navigating down through levels of menus by selection of an ‘option’provided by a preceding menu.

Step 2 and Step 3 show that upon selection of a final action, the SMSC120 at a switching control point (SCP) 122 scales the final actionrequest to the appropriate external entity (e.g., to the WirelessInternet Gateway 130).

Step 4 of FIG. 2 shows the submission of a query by the WirelessInternet Gateway 130 to the appropriate Information Server 150 via theInternet 202, and the receipt of an appropriate result.

Step 5 shows the Wireless Internet Gateway 130 forwarding a shortmessage (or messages) containing the result of the query to the SMSC120. The short message is addressed to the mobile device 100 thatinitiated the query.

Step 6 shows the SMSC 120 querying the HLR 140.

Step 7 shows the HLR 140 responding with MSC point code.

Step 8 shows the SMSC 120 submitting a message to the MSC 110 fordelivery to the mobile device 100.

Simple applications may utilize the interactive SMS menus to providestatic network information, such as emergency numbers, Short Dialnumbers, or useful service provider contact information (e.g., billingquestions or service frequently asked questions).

More powerful applications can seek out content information fromexternal sources via a Wireless Internet Gateway or to conducttransactions via the Web. For instance, an exemplary application mayallow the submission of a command to an external entity that returns adesired result. A potential scenario may involve a subscriber navigatingthrough a couple of menus to reach a “Stock Quotes” option, and thenentering the stock ticker of a desired stock.

FIGS. 3A to 3C show exemplary interactive SMS menus displayed on amobile phone, in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention.

In particular, FIG. 3A shows a main menu custom configured by and for aparticular subscriber. In particular, the subscriber accesses a staticmain menu from the SMSC 120 containing the text: “1: USAToday.com 2:QueryNet 3: Games Options Back”.

If the subscriber were to choose ‘1’ in response to the main menu shownin FIG. 3A, another static menu one level down is shown in FIG. 3B,including the sub-menus of the USAToday.com. In particular, the 2^(nd)level of menu for the main menu choice of ‘1’ includes the text: “1:Sports 2: Weather 3: News 4: Prev Menu Options Back”.

FIG. 3C shows an exemplary dynamic menu obtained from the informationserver 150 for the USAToday.com via the Wireless Internet Gateway 130,including the text: “Ripken set to rebound after frustrating 1999Orioles 3B says Options Back”.

As shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the menu structures and/or content arepreferably service provider configurable (and even subscribercustomized). Moreover, the interactive SMS menus are delivered to themobile device 100 via SMS short messaging, not using, e.g., WAPprotocols. It is preferable that an appropriate number of menu levels besupported, e.g., up to five (5), but the present invention relates totwo or more levels of menus. The interactive SMS menus enable navigationto access multiple services at the easy selection of a choice, i.e.,with the selection of ‘1’, ‘2’, ‘3’, ‘4’, ‘5’, ‘6’, ‘7’, ‘8’, or ‘9’ inresponse to the receipt of any relevant menu. In the given example,selection of a ‘0’ takes you back to a home or root menu.

As shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the menus on the SMSC 120 are static inresponse to the mobile device 100, whereas the menus on the WirelessInternet Gateway 130 may be dynamic in that they are ‘formed’ by theresponse information provided by the relevant information server 150.

FIGS. 4A to 4C show an exemplary application of interactive SMS menuswherein on-demand stock updates are provided in response to selectionfrom a lower level menu, in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention.

For example, a carrier might define a menu consisting of: 1) News, 2)Sports, 3) Local Weather, 4) Games, and 5) Stocks. A subscriber canquickly navigate through SMS menus to reach the Stocks option, press 5,and the request will automatically be sent. The network may then returnan SMS menu page asking the user to enter the stock ticker, or it can beset to provide the user with personalized stock ticker selections.

FIG. 4A shows another exemplary main menu. In the given example of FIGS.4A-4C, assume that the subscriber or user of the mobile device 100presses ‘3’ in response to the main, static menu shown in FIG. 4A.

In return, the mobile device 100 would receive a second level, staticmenu, e.g., as shown in FIG. 4B. In this example, the responseinteractive SMS menu requests a stock ticker identifying symbol, andoffers a ticker lookup option to simplify the user interface needs. Inthis case, the user might enter ‘2’ ‘58’ and send, with the ‘2’representing entry of a ticker to follow, ‘58’ corresponding to theticker LU (Lucent Technologies Inc.).

The relevant information server 150 would provide the relevant stockprice information, and a third level dynamic ‘menu’ is transmitted tothe mobile device 100 showing the exemplary information as in FIG. 4C.Further menu options may be provided as shown in FIG. 4C, and the fourthand lower level menus may be static (e.g., simply retrieved by addressfrom the SMSC 120) or may be dynamically formed using retrievedinformation from an appropriate application program via the Internet.

The information may be sent using the mobile device's mobile originatedcapabilities (no WAP necessary or required) to an external server thatprocesses the query and returns a result to the mobile device.

The flexibility of this feature can allow service providers to configuretheir own options at different menu levels, depending on existing/futureservice offerings. Moreover, this functionality allows mobile device andair interface transparency, as long as the mobile device (e.g., cellularphone) is CDMA (IS-637) or TDMA (IS-136a) Mobile Originated SMScompliant.

Interactive SMS menu services may be provided in either of two exemplarymanners.

The first method utilizes a short message service center (SMSC) assimply a transport mechanism with an external short messaging entity(ESME) out in the TCP/IP network side providing all of the service. Thismay be accomplished, e.g., by defining entries to a message receivefinite state machine (FSM) allowing the subscriber to address theparticular ESME.

For instance, in a particular application, routing may be assisted byMO_Know (and/or MO_Dynamic) entries defined in a Msg_receive FSMallowing the subscriber to address the ESME. These entries may define atable used to signify destination addresses that equate to correspondingIP addresses, ports and connection on the Internet side. MO_Dynamicentries are similar to routing, but key off initial words or text in atext message, then appropriately routes the message to a menuapplication.

The second method utilizes an SMSC to generate a menu and responsestransmitted to the mobile device. This may be accomplished by defining,e.g., a Menu_Fsm and a Menu_table.

As an exemplary implementation of the second method, a 4-digit addressis selected to identify the particular menu to be addressed. Of course,fewer or more digits may be used to define the particular menu based onthe needs of the particular application.

The menu address, e.g., the 4-digit address, may form a service addressused by the subscriber to begin the menu dialog. For example, ‘6368’(menu) may form a parameter called, e.g., ‘menu_key’. This is all thatneeds to be provisioned in a provisioning form, e.g., in a ‘Menu_Fsm’provisioning form. The body of the feature may be defined within anotherprovisioning form, e.g., within a ‘Menu_table’ provisioning form.

The MO_Know table form may also be provisioned with the menu address,e.g., with ‘6368’ as ‘index’ and ‘dest_index’ fields, and a deliverymethod ‘deliver_method’ set to delivery via the SMSC, e.g., ‘MO_smsc’.This allows mobile originated (MO) messages to be directed to the menufinite state machine ‘Menu_Fsm’ for processing.

To request a particular menu, the mobile originating subscriberinitiates a message addressed to, e.g., ‘6368’. The menu request ispreferably directed to the ‘Menu_Fsm’, and expanded to a lengthsufficient to include a digit for each menu selected through.

For instance, the 4-digit menu address may be expanded to allow for five(5) levels of menus by lengthening the menu address to a 9-digit routingstring by appending 0's to the end. While 0's are used in this example,of course any suitable character (or characters) may be used to providea ‘null’ value in the expanded version of the menu address.

In the given example, the resulting ‘root’ menu address is the 9-bitaddress ‘636800000’, and this value is preferably defined in a Menutable form. In accordance with the principles of the present invention,a ‘text’ field preferably contains the text (menu options) that is to bereturned to the subscriber. For example, a particular menu may includethe text: “Select 1) Food 2) Drink”.

The field is preferably limited to fit within an allotted display area,e.g., to 150 characters. Moreover, the text is preferably not formatted,to allow flexibility in the display of the particular mobile device.

If a user response is required by the SMS in response to the transmittedmenu, a flag is set in the menu when transmitted to the mobile device.For instance, a ‘menu_action’ field may preferably be set to, e.g., a‘next_menu’ parameter, thus requiring a user response to the receivedinteractive SMS menu.

The mobile originated subscriber receives the ‘text’ and sends, e.g., a1-digit response to the message (e.g., 0 to 9). This response is againdirected to the menu finite state machine, e.g., ‘Menu_Fsm’, as‘636800000’, allowing return of a response code.

For example, assume the menu addressed by ‘6368’ includes the text:“Select 1) Food 2) Drink, and that the user presses the ‘2’ key toprovide a ‘2’ as the response code after having read the selections. Theinteractive SMS menu feature preferably replaces the first ‘0’ in theexpanded portion of the menu address with a non-zero or non-nullresponse code. In the given example of a response of ‘2’, a text messagewill be returned by the mobile device to the SMSC including a ‘root’ of636820000.

The interactive SMS menu feature then looks for a matching ‘root’ entryto the new menu address ‘63682’, and sends a corresponding new menu backto the mobile originated subscriber in SMS text form or replacement anddisplay instead of the previous ‘6368’ menu. In the given example, amenu addressed at ‘63682’ may include text such as “1) Coffee 2) Tea 3)Juice 4) Soda 5) Water”.

The mobile originated subscriber receives the replacement interactiveSMS menu ‘text’, allowing for another 1-digit response by the user,which is again directed to the menu finite state machine ‘Menu_Fsm’. Forexample, assume a ‘3’ is the response code at this point. Theinteractive SMS menu feature preferably replaces the first ‘0’encountered with the response code, resulting in a new ‘root’ menuaddress of ‘636823000’.

This continues until a final menu selection has been made. If noadditional user responses are required, then the response field (e.g.,‘menu_action’) in the SMS text message from the SMS to the mobile devicemay be set to, e.g., ‘final’.

Provision for returning to a ‘home’ menu may be provided. For instance,a user response of, e.g., ‘0’ or other null character may at any timecause the SMS to returns the main menu addressed at 636800000.

Preferably, each branch of the menu is provisioned as a separate entryinto an appropriate menu table. Also preferably, the ‘root’ menu addresspreferably inherently contains the previous selections made by the userto reach the current level of text, e.g., 636823000 includes theselections of ‘2’ and ‘3’, through three levels of menus. While theprinciples of the present invention relate to menus having anywhere fromjust a couple to many, many levels, the length of the menu addressinherently serves to limit the number of levels that the menuing mayinclude. For instance, in the given example of expanding the menuaddress by five digits, five (5) levels of response menus (or 6 levelsof menus) may be provided.

Interaction with an external ESME may be accomplished by provisioning anappropriate field, e.g., a ‘menu_action’ field as, e.g., ‘rqst’, and anauxiliary menu flag parameter, e.g., ‘aux_menu_flag’ to, e.g., ‘TRUE’for that user selection. In the given example, this will result in amessage ‘aux_menu_string’ being escalated over an SMPP port identifiedby ‘aux_menu_counter’. The mobile originated subscriber's mobileidentification number (MIN) is included in the SMPP message sent to theESME. Once escalated, the ESME is responsible for sending messages(conformation) to the mobile originated subscriber.

This implementation allows the SMSC to handle a portion of the menuprocessing, with the ability to hand off the subscriber to a specificESME depending on the subscriber's responses. The hand off may actuallybe a request for specific information or a request for delivery of anobject (e.g., ‘3) juice’).

Menus may be pushed down to the mobile device via SMSC and can be setupto allow for user responses. The response can be delivered back to theSMSC via Mobile Originated messaging and will trigger another menu tothe handset allowing menus and interaction with external entities viaTCP/IP.

The following service implementation description depicts a typicalmenuing scenario.

Scenario 1—Menuing

1. The first level menu is passed down to the mobile station. Themessage is passed down with a request for acknowledgement to themessage.2. The user can select a numeric acknowledgement to the menu.3. The MO message is sent back to the SMSC in the form of a mobileoriginated short message.4. The message response is received by the SMSC and is acted on bymoving to the next level menu or to initiate a request via TCP/IP asappropriate for retrieval of information.5. If a new menu is pushed down to the mobile station the message issent requesting replacement of the previous message.6. This message replacement allows for only one message ever to bestored on the handset, which defines the current level within then menustructure.7. Every level of menuing allows the user to proceed to the next levelof menus or to return to the previous level of menus. This allows theuser to interactively move between menus.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a mobiledevice is provided with menu interfaces without requiring replacement ofthe mobile device with a WAP compliant mobile device and/or withoutentering a WAP ‘browser mode’. Instead of requiring compliance with WAPprotocols, the solution saves costs by utilizing an SMSC as thetransport mechanism.

The user may ‘walk’ thru various levels of a menu, and stop at anydesired level. Preferably, the user can pick-up at that level of themenu at any time without creating a new connection. With CSD (e.g., withWAP), this is not possible and a large portion of cost is derived inconnection time to get started.

Thus, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, anSMSC includes the capability to interactively exchange messages with amobile device. The SMSC is provided with the ability to detect a menulevel of a subscriber, and to interact with the mobile device asappropriate, without the need for WAP protocol communications.

Content for the mobile device menus may be provided, e.g., by a suitablenews source, such as www.usatoday.com.

Benefits of Interactive Menus include: (1) Handset and air interfacetransparency for TDMA (IS-136a), CDMA (IS-637), or GSM Mobile OriginatedSMS compliant handsets. (2) Easy personalization, customization, andconfigurability: users can “Pull” desired content on demand or set uptheir profile for scheduled delivery. (3) Immediately available forcurrent networks using existing standard SMS capabilities. (4)Utilization of SMS packet-based services instead of circuit switcheddata (CSD), relieving network congestion and leaving traffic channelsavailable for voice calls. (5) Utilization of less costly and moreplentiful Mobile Originated handsets, versus specialized WAPhandsets—though also compatible with WAP based servers and handsets. (6)Low implementation and operation costs with userself-provisioning—designed for easy offer to the masses.

One exemplary application making use of interactive SMS menus inaccordance with the principles of the present invention is on-linegaming, where users can stay on-line for extended periods of time, andalso interact with other players/subscribers.

Interactive SMS menu functionality has particular application inwireless carrier markets, Internet Service Providers markets, and/orInformation content delivery services/provision markets.

While the invention has been described with reference to the exemplaryembodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will be able to makevarious modifications to the described embodiments of the inventionwithout departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

1. An interactive short messaging system menu selection process,comprising: receiving a text message from a mobile device including anidentification of a main menu; transmitting a text message to saidmobile device including text of said main menu; and receiving back fromsaid mobile device a choice corresponding to a selected further menu.2-21. (canceled)